Remembering injury remedies

So yesterday I finally embarked on my mandazi making mission, (the quest to expand my cookery skills to the utter joy of my hubby and our stomachs) and I ended up getting splashed with some hot oil on my right ring finger,ouch! that was just too painful and I could upload a picture of my finger as it is now, but lets just say, I won't air my 'dirty' linen in public (not too nice a sight).

So as I was vigorously shaking my hand and trying to remember, what it is we were told to do when such a predicament befell us, umh nothing came to mind except pouring cold water on it and calling my hubby. He was a sweetheart and applied Colgate to cool the inflammation (believe me it works) and then I continued cooking my mandazis, am an African woman, not even a cockroach can put me down!

A thought came to mind and I couldn't help but remember the many times we've all watched telly and seen someone catch or is on fire and we shout, stop drop and roll dude! Really, if you or I were in the same situation, wud we stop drop and roll or run all over the place like headless chicken! It is true that reason flies right out the window when we panic. So my advice is, pray for God to give you calmness. Otherwise we contribute alot to situations if handled in calmness, would have been contained.

According to google (our new classroom) I was meant to run my oil burnt finger under cold water (one point to me) and apply aloe Vera (yeah we all have one of this lying around the house somewhere,right!). With option two not available, the Colgate saved the day. I felt compelled and challenged enough to check out and upload a few remedies that we can all memorise or better still print and paste at home, for that moment of great need.

Cuts and scrapes.
The main danger in cuts and scrapes is bacterial infection. If you can get rid of the bacteria from the site of the wound, your body's natural defences will take over and heal the affected body part in time. Gently clean wounds with soapy water to remove dirt and pat dry. For a natural antibacterial ointment for the cut or wound, use honey. Dab a thin film of honey onto the area. Avoid covering the wound with a bandage if possible. Exposing the wound to air, speeds up the formation of a crust on it. Do call your doctor or local emergency services if the wound is:

• More than a quarter-inch deep.
• More than an inch long.
• Is gaping.
• Is on the face.

If the wound resulted because of contact with rusty metal, you must consider the possibility of tetanus. You will need to get a tetanus shot if it has been five years since your last shot. Try to get the shot on the same day or at least within forty eight hours of getting the wound.
Paper cuts.
For prompt relief from irritating paper cuts rub some chap stick(don't think we have this in Kenya) or tea tree oil on the cut.
Bleeding.
To staunch bleeding from a cut, apply pressure directly on the cut with a clean towel or bandage. Then take one tea bag and immerse it in cold water till it is totally saturated. Wring about half of the water out, place the bag on the cut and apply mild pressure for at least 10 minutes. Repeat the process if the bleeding has not completely stopped. If severe bleeding is taking place, apply pressure on the pressure point closest to the cut and get the patient to a doctor as soon as possible. The patient's life could depend on this.
Burns.
The best thing for a burn is to apply water liberally. Do ensure that the water is not too hot or too cold. Blisters will be formed, but that is a part of the natural healing process. If you want to avoid blisters you could try one of these home remedies. Cut a tomato into wedges and rub one slice on the burn. The acid from the tomato takes the pain away and the burn will not blister. You can also use cold water and vinegar compresses until the pain goes away and then apply potato slices on the area.
Splinters.
To remove small splinters from the skin easily, wet a bar of soap and rub the sharp end of a sewing needle in it, so that the needle has a liberal coating of soap. Then rub the soapy needle in the opposite direction of the splinter. As soon as the splinter has some soap in it, squeeze it, and it should come right out. This method is painless and is good for children. For removing splinters of glass from the skin pour some hydrogen peroxide on the skin. The splinter will come out after a few minutes.